I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake. Chapter 115

I Killed the Demon King. It was a mistake.

Chapter 115

The Arch Duke could feel moisture gathering in his hand.

– He’s a terrifying person.

– If this person had been the Demon King, he wouldn’t have won the demon world war.

– Is it really right to make a deal with him?

Psychometrically, the Arch Duke’s mind was wavering.

But for the Arch Duke, there was only one predetermined path.

There was one common fact that both Laar, the Arch Duke, and the current Caesar knew.

Laar Ark will die of illness by the end of this year.

Caesar knew this from game knowledge, and Laar would have known from the ‘Akashic Record’.

So, while he was still alive, Laar Ark would want to establish a clear direction on how to deal with Caesar.

The Arch Duke stood up, leaning on his cane, and shook Caesar’s hand.

“Let’s do that.”

Yes.

He knew this answer would come.

To fulfill the wishes of the Arch family, he had no choice but to shake Caesar’s hand.

Originally, if the player doesn’t intervene in the Arch family’s ark project, the predetermined future would cause the ark to be destroyed.

The Arch Duke rolled his cane, and a door appeared in the picture room that wasn’t there before.

“Go out this way.”

“Wasn’t it over?”

“If you go there, ‘I’ will tell you what I want to ask of you.”

So, the past Arch Duke is beyond that door.

Since this information can only be understood by understanding the Akashic Record, Caesar decided to play dumb.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll know when you go.”

Caesar turned the doorknob and opened it.

He entered another picture room.

There was a fireplace, and portraits of past Arch Dukes were hanging.

It was the same room as before, but the difference was that Viscount Bellum and the Arch Duke were together.

Caesar looked behind the door he had just opened.

“How is this…”

The Arch Duke beyond the door, seemingly satisfied with Caesar’s shocked expression, grinned and rolled his cane again.

The door disappeared, as if it had never existed, and Caesar was back in the picture room.

‘Pretending not to know is quite a challenge.’

Caesar stared at the Arch Duke.

“What is this?”

The Arch Duke here, compared to the future Arch Duke, smiled much more kindly.

“Whatever you saw beyond there, it actually happened, so believe it as is.”

Viscount Bellum also smiled, as if understanding what Caesar had experienced.

“Now, don’t stand there blankly, sit down.”

Right.

At this point, the Arch Duke doesn’t know that Caesar is a ‘doppelganger’.

Caesar sat down comfortably.

As soon as the Arch Duke sat down, he spoke.

“So, what question do you have for me?”

“You said to tell me what you want.”

The Arch Duke nodded in understanding.

“I see. You seem to have passed.”

“Passed? Was this some kind of test?”

“Don’t try to understand, just accept it. It’s my way of verification.”

“Did Viscount Bellum also go through this?”

Viscount Bellum nodded.

“Was there a Arch Duke beyond that door?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“It’s something you’ll experience once becoming a person of the Arch Duke, so don’t worry too much. And of course, this is a secret known only among us.”

Caesar nodded as if he understood.

“I roughly understand.”

“Yes. That’s the easiest way to comprehend it.”

Caesar used psychometry on the Arch Duke, just in case.

– My future has acknowledged it, so there should be no problems in the Akashic Record.

– Then I can probably speak to Caesar comfortably.

– It’s a pity I can’t see the distant future, but I should be satisfied with this.

As expected, this is how the Arch Duke has distinguished between trustworthy and untrustworthy people.

If the Akashic Record wasn’t continuously being updated because of Caesar, he would have seen Caesar’s distant future as well.

He’ll be careful from now on.

If Caesar doesn’t have a conversation or act according to the future the future Arch Duke saw, he’ll end up in a time loop like before.

He won’t try to fabricate a story or be consciously aware of it.

“Then, let me tell you what I want to ask.”

Viscount Bellum handed Caesar a small document.

“Open it.”

Caesar opened the document as the Arch Duke said. There was a map drawn on it.

“This is… A demon world map?”

“That’s right. This is the current demon world front as of a week ago. Can you read operational maps?”

“I spent three years in the demon world. It’d be ridiculous if I couldn’t read a map.”

“Then can you evaluate it?”

Although he had already received this map through Miles, Caesar carefully examined it before speaking.

“The Orcs have crossed over the beastmen’s territory and illegally occupied the northern coastline.”

“That’s right. It’s been quite a headache.”

Tak-

When the Arch Duke lightly tapped his cane on the floor, an arrow appeared on the map Caesar was holding.

“This is the current route of magical stones. The magical stone mine development is almost in its final stages, and we just need to move them. But the aggressive Orcs are threatening by illegally occupying the northern coast.”

“Aren’t the succubi, vampires, and mermaids still periodically attacking ships?”

“They’re known to only attack ships carrying their own demon race. That’s why mixing magical stones and demon races on ships is prohibited. They’re no longer transporting demon races by ship.”

Caesar used psychometry.

– The Emperor was very angry about this.

– He’s desperate to research vampire immortality, but land routes are dangerous due to bandits, and maritime routes are being attacked by mermaids.

– Other magical towers have requested to research the demon races, but I blocked them.

– There’s no reason to bring dangerous demon races into the magical tower, and touching them might disrupt magical stone distribution.

As expected, the Arch Duke was obsessed with magical stones.

He was clearly putting all his efforts into ensuring no issues with magical stone distribution.

This was because the completion of the ark depended on whether the magical stone distribution route was cut off or not.

“So, should I subjugate these Orcs?”

“Yes. I hope you can go and resolve this within 2-3 months.”

“However, this isn’t something I can solve alone. The front is long and wide. I can’t possibly patrol the entire northern coast by myself.”

The Arch Duke stroked his cane while speaking.

“You’ll need at least one or two knight orders.”

“That’s right. Are there any knight orders I can receive support from?”

“No, there are no nobles with enough financial resources to mobilize knight orders across the entire imperial kingdom right now.”

Currently, the imperial court is precarious, and local military factions are growing increasingly powerful.

Nobles and knight orders with weak influence are slowly being consumed by the ‘lords’, and some knight orders are completely disbanding due to blocked financial flows.

In such a chaotic situation, no one would send their knight order to the demon world.

– So Caesar must create one.

“Therefore, you must create one.”

Caesar took his first deep breath.

Now he understood why the future Arch Duke had looked at him with such sharp eyes – because he was about to suggest this ridiculous thing.

Ask a doppelganger to create a knight order within Homigraph?

The future Arch Duke must be squirming with embarrassment right now.

‘If the future Arch Duke had left even a small message for the past Arch Duke, it might have been different. Looks like there’s absolutely no way to bypass this.’

Good information.

“Does this mean you’ll grant me a title?”

“That’s right. I know that the Redfield family and the imperial family have already contacted you. But why haven’t you accepted?”

“I thought it wouldn’t look good in the public eye to receive a title when the demon world war hasn’t even ended.”

Caesar decided to choose a response that might provoke the future Arch Duke.

“If I receive a title, I wanted to receive it from the Arch Duke himself.”

Viscount Bellum’s eyes curved softly. It seemed he thought Caesar had completely sided with the Arch Duke. The Arch Duke also nodded with a soft smile.

“Then I shall grant you a title. We’ll have the investiture ceremony soon, so you can start recruiting knights now.”

Caesar knelt on one knee before the Arch Duke, performing the ritual of vassalage.

“I, Caesar Sylvatil, shall serve you.”

The room’s atmosphere warmed like a cozy fireplace. But the one beyond that wall would be furious.

***

As soon as Caesar and Viscount Bellum left the drawing room, they moved to the front gate where the future Arch Duke was waiting. The reason he was certain this was the future Duke was because the Arch Duke’s gaze towards Caesar was subtly cold. Viscount Bellum smiled and said:

“We shall take our leave now, Your Grace.”

“Indeed. And you, keep an eye on me.”

Viscount Bellum tilted his head. This had never happened before.

“Please wait a moment, Viscount Bellum.”

“Understood.”

Caesar followed the future Arch Duke. The Duke entered a corner where no one was around and spoke:

“I shall grant you a title.”

“Really? I thought you wouldn’t.”

“I publicly declared it in front of Viscount Bellum, how could I not? However, I’ll give you a Viscounty, which can not inheritable.”

Was this about maintaining the last bit of pride?

Caesar readily accepted.

“Not bad. I wasn’t planning to continue my lineage anyway.”

“And soon you’ll find out that you won’t be serving only me.”

What does this mean?

Caesar used psychometry.

– Since it’s come to this, I should have both the Emperor and the Duke of Redfield receive his loyalty oath.

– It’s dangerous to receive the loyalty of this doppelganger alone.

– Even if this guy accidentally reveals his identity, I’ll make it complicated for the Imperial Family and the Duke of Redfield.

Wow, he’s using my own methods directly.

If the bomb is small, there’s no problem, but the larger the bomb, the harder it is to light the fuse.

They really do learn bad things well.

“Looks like you’ll be contacting the Imperial Family and the Duke of Redfield as well?”

“…How perceptive.”

“I couldn’t do my job without such a head.”

Caesar bowed politely.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

The Arch Duke seemed slightly irritated and left without even acknowledging the farewell.

Ah, usually you become closer by joking around.

He’s too serious, unlike Harrison who doesn’t accept it.

Caesar left the Great Ark Library with light steps.

***

[Caesar Sylvatil, post knight squadron recruitment notice.]

[Arch Duke plans to grant title to Caesar soon.]

[Knights from across the county rushing over to Homigraph.]

Gloria ran to the training ground with the morning newspaper.

“Is this real? Master?! You’re receiving a title?!”

“That’s how it is.”

Gideon also ran over with the morning newspaper.

“Lord Caesar! This…”

“Gloria already asked. Since it’s true, don’t make a fuss.”

“Indeed, I thought Lord Caesar was fully qualified for a title. When is the investiture ceremony?”

“Two months from now.”

Caesar stretched while speaking.

“And after forming the knight squadron, we’ll head to the demon realm.”

Gloria was startled.

“What?! Why?”

“It’s a secret for now, but the demon realm’s frontline is a bit chaotic. You can think of it as a temporary deployment support.”

Caesar pointed at Gloria and said,

“So if you want to come with me, you’ll need to get your knight certification quickly. When did you say the knight exam is?”

“In a month.”

Originally, the knight certification exam was held twice a year, typically in November or December. However, due to the demon incident that occurred in Sanctus Lumen, the exam had been delayed as they strengthened security and tightened regulations.

“Pass it on the first try. Got it?”

“Yes! I understand.”

Caesar looked at Gideon.

“And Gideon, what was the name of that old man working in the workshop?”

“Are you talking about Theon?”

“Yes, that old man.”

Gloria looked at Caesar in disbelief.

“How can you not know the name of someone you hired?”

“I might have forgotten since I haven’t seen him in a long time. Anyway, bring Master Theon to Dre as well.”

Gideon tilted his head.

“Why should I bring Master Theon?”

“There’s a blacksmith named Pesson in Shalibi who made my axe. I want him to learn some metallurgy techniques. Pesson is quite good at making machines, but his metallurgy skills are lacking.”

“Would a blacksmith in Shalibi readily share their techniques? Their metallurgy skills aren’t something just anyone can learn.”

“Pesson will be eager to learn once he sees Theon’s spring armor. They can exchange and learn from each other. If they don’t want to, I’ll just bring Theon along.”

Gideon nodded.

“Understood. Should I bring him after Gloria’s knight certification exam?”

“Let Theon stay until he’s learned enough. We’ll be going to upgrade the axe anyway.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

Caesar handed Gideon the broken lefty handle.

It was painful to look at.

“Ask Pesson to fix this. Tell him to just make a new handle, and sharpen the axe blade.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“If he tries to completely remake the axe, stop him. I absolutely won’t pay for that. Insist he only fix the handle. Got it?”

“…Yes. Understood.”

“No, I’ll write a letter for him. That way, he won’t carelessly hammer at my axe.”

He hasn’t yet decided how to modify lefty.

He could make it the same as Thunder, but he wants to create a different form.

He’s currently contemplating its design.

Caesar clapped his hands.

“We’ll start moving tomorrow. We’ll arrange train tickets and accommodation through Sean.”

“Yes!”

Gloria’s eyes were determined.

She was afraid of being left alone in Homigraph if she fails the knight exam.

Caesar patted Gloria’s back, seeing the intensity in her eyes.

“Relax your eyes. I’ll take you with me even if you fail.”

“…No. I will definitely pass.”

Gloria drew her sword.

“I’ll pass and enter with the most coolest-named knight squadron.”

How ridiculous.

Why are you talking like you’re the one naming the knight squadron?